Josiah Meyer

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

(Matthew 5:38-45)

There was a time in history when overt military force worked pretty well to overcome national enemies. If a large nation was being attacked by a little nation, they could sweep in and conquer them, set up military stations throughout the nation and demand crippling taxes. Yes, some amount of gurilla warfare could be expected in these situations, but so long as people traveled with large military escorts, the danger was minimal and the nation would be mortally crippled. After all ? when you are talking about swords, arrows and horses, numbers and training always win overwhelming, devastating victories.

This is simply not the case anymore, and Jesus? way of dealing with conflict has never been more badly needed!

Nowadays, guns are cheap and rockets and bombs are not that much more expensive. The result is that a nation may win a devastating victory over another nation, but unless they are prepared to wipe out every man woman and child of the people of that nation, there will always be people left who are more than able to engage in very successful gurrilla warfare ? or terrorism, as it is called today.

I am sure that Israel feels very justified in invading Gaza. After all, Gaza has been sending crude rockets over the border for years ? and ?eye-for-eye? is just the way that things are done. But consider this: in under a week, the Israelis have killed 200 children, and 400 adults ? and the death toll is still rising!

Just stop and consider that. Imagine if your own children or nieces were killed by a neighboring nation, whom you have always disliked. Tell me, is this the kind of thing which will make you want to just say, ?Oh well, I guess we?ll leave you alone now..? or is this precisely the thing which will make you want to build a rocket to send over the border or (if you have nothing else to live for now) to strap on a bomb and go kill as many of the enemies as possible!?

The ?eye-for-eye? method makes sense. It wins loud applause for nations who feel victimized. But in the end, however, it is only through forgiveness, self-sacrifice and enemy-love that lasting peace will be won on this earth.

Only Jesus has the answer for lasting peace in the middle east, and for the world!!